Apparatus for loading and ramming the materials in an enclosed space



p 24, 1957 J. PELLAT-FINET 2,807,377

DING AND RAMMING THE MATERIALS APPARATUS FOR LOA IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 4; 1954 INVINIDR r. W) 2m 5/ Sept. 24, 1957 J. PELLAT=FINET APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND Filed March 4. 1954 2,807,377 RAMMING THE MATERIALS IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 2 my n m M 0 Se t. 24, 1957 J. PELLAT-FINET 2,807,377

APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND RAMMING THE MATERIALS IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 4, 1954 APPARATUS 'FOR LOADING AND RAMMINGV THE MATERIALS IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE Application March 4, 1954, Serial No. 4 14,120 Claims priority, application France March 4,1953 6' Claims. c1.214-17 The present invention relates to apparatus for loading and ramming materials into an enclosed space. The enclosed space may be fixed as in the case of a silo or movable as in thel case of the container of a transport vehicle. The materials in question may be of various natures; but thetinvention appears to be particularly applicable in the case of household refuse'to be loaded into a collecting vehicle. 1

Variousloading and ramming apparatus 'are already known, some of which comprise one or more pusher panels having a reciprocating movement, -while=others comprise rotative blades or the-like, which are sometimes mounted on a drum or the like, and-sometimes in the manner of the blades of a turbine- These bladesmay be fixed, but arrangements are known in .whichthey have a certain freedom of movement, the direction of which is fixed in relation to their trajectory or iseven variable in relation thereto.

The present invention has forits object to provide loading and ramming apparatus comprising such blades of variable orientation, and primarily to provide devices of this nature which meet the practical requirements more satisfactorily than hitherto, notably with regard to the facility and effectiveness of theloading, and-the reliability of operation of the apparatus without danger of harmful clogging thereof, as also with regard to the extent of the ramming effected.

The invention consists principally in providing an ap paratus of the type specified, which comprises at least one orientable blade participating in the loading and ramming, and mechanical means for imparting a double movement to the said blade, one of these movements being a closed curvedtrajectory, while the other movement includes changes in the orientation, of the said blade along the said trajectory and in relation thereto, the said changes of orientation taking place either in at least three zones of the trajectory or along at least a fraction thereof, of a length equal at least to one sixth of the said trajectory.

The invention will-be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that this description is given primarily by way of indication and as a non-limitative example. i I V Figure 1 is adiagrammatic View in longitudinal section of a ramming apparatus designed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; a

Figure 2 is a view of the same apparatus in cross-section along the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, the movable parts of the apparatus in another position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, but taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3; I

Figure 5 is a view similar to those of Figures 1 and 3, giving a kinematic representationof the various positions successively occupied by the ramming member in the course of a cycle;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view, partly in cross-section,

showing .to turn in bearings turn rotates simultaneously with a shaft 5 journalled in 'head 11 on the one hand, and of the cranks Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view in longitudinal section on the line VII-VII of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is adiagrammatic view of a driving member comprising hydraulic jacks for controlling an apparatus according to the invention;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view in longitudinal section of the ramming device designed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 10 is a view of the same device in cross-section on-the line XX of Figure 9;

Figures 11 to 16 are diagrams indicating the positions successively occupied by the movable blade in the course of a cycle of operation; and I Figure 17 is a diagrammatic view of the same device in the course of its use, the said device being provided with a tightly closed system for unloading refuse cans.

In the illustratedexamples, it has been assumedthat the loading apparatus according to the invention is employed fordelivering towards a container 17, which may be that of a collecting vehicle, household refuse discharged through the orifice 16of a hopper 13.

In Figures l'to 6, 1 is a ramming member consisting of a long blade fast with a shaft 2. The latter is adapted 3 mounted on side plates 4, which in bearings 6 mounted on the walls of the container. The shaft 2 is provided at its ends with cranks 8, the oscillatory movement of which can be produced in various ways. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the said move ment is produced in the following manner: pivotally mounted on the journals 9 are connecting rods 10, the of each of which co-operates with an eccentric .12.. The latter may be mounted in various ways, and for .example either on the bearings 6 or directly on the walls 7.

The blade 1 moves in a hopper 13, which comprises at its lower end a curved base 14 and at its upper end a curved wall 15. The refuse is discharged through an orifice 16 and delivered into the container 17 through an orifice18. When the shaft 5 is turned from any suitable driving source, such as motor M, the blade 1 driven by the shaft 2 describes a composite movement under the action of the bearings rotated by the side plates 4, 8 and the connecting rods 10, on the other hand.

This movement is illustrated by the kinematic representation of Figure 5, which shows the successive positions occupied by a blade, such as 1, when the shaft is rotated. i

Starting with the blade 1 in the position 1a, on rotation-of the shaft 5 by motor M in the direction indicated by the arrow 19, the said blade successively occupies the positions 1b, 1c, 10., 1e, 1 1g, 1h, 1i, 1 1 k, 1m, owing to-the various mechanical links described.

The position of the centre 20 of the eccentric 12 (Figure 1) is preferably so chosen that, in the position 1a, the blade 1 is oriented perpendicularly to the radius 21a (Figure 5) which joins the centre of the shaft 2 to the centre of the shaft 5 while in the diametrically opposite position 1g the blade occupies a position in the neighbourhood-of the direction of the radius 21g joining the centres of the shafts 2 and 5.

In the positions such as 1k, 1m, 1b and 1c close to la, the blade 1 is preferably only slightly inclined in relation to the normal to the radius joining the centres of the shafts 2 and 5, while in the positions 1 and 1h close to 13 it is preferably slightly inclined in relation to the direction of the radius joining the same centres of the shafts 2 and 5.

Thus, the blade -1 can effectively deliver material and in particular the refuse discharged at 22 into the hopper 13.

-Infact, the blade bears, in the course of its movement,

other occupies the position 1g.

the said refuse carry along refuse when it passes from lit to 1m and then to la and 1b, since its movement then takes place in the general direction of the arrow .25, .which is substantially perpendicular to the general direction 26 in which the refuse is forced into the container 17. A scraper 28 may be employed to clean the pushing face of the blade and. to prevent, at least partially, a return of the material towards the hopper 18 in the course of its delivery. It may also be advantageous to form the blade 1 with a convex face such as 29.

Finally, in this embodiment of the invention, the blade such as 1 moves, during a part of its trajectory, in the direction of the arrow 30 perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to its pushing face, and then compresses the refuse. Thereafter, during another part of its trajectory, the blade 1 moves in the direction of the arrow 31 which is the same as the general directionin which the pusher face is directed, and consequently perpendicular to the direction in which the refuse is delivered into the container.

In addition, while the blade 1 is pushing the refuse contained in the hopper, that is to say, while it passes from the position 1e to the position 1k, the spaces through which the panel 1 passes for a given angle of rotation of the shaft 5 consequently decrease. In other words, the spaces 32e, 32f, 32g, 32h, 32i and 32f through which the refuse successively passes constantly decrease in the direction of delivery, despite the fact that the rotations of the shaft 1 are the same between each of the corresponding positions of the blade as indicated in Figure 5, namely at 30 apart.

This eifect is favourable to the efficiency of the apparatus since for a given driving torque on the shaft 5, the force applied to the compression of the refuse is inversely proportional to the path along which ittravels. Now, during the equal angular rotations of the shaft 5, the spaces 32c, 32 32g, 32h, 32iand 32 that is to say, the

distance through which the refuse passes, constantly decrease. The force applied to the compression of the refuse therefore constantly increases.

The loading apparatus above described may be varied in numerous ways. For example, it may comprise two blades, the shafts of which, such as 2, are diametrically opposite and each comprise cranks such as 8 and connecting rods such as 10, the heads of which, such as 11, are adapted to co-operate with a common eccentric 12, the width of which may be increased to enable it to receive a number of connectingrods such as 11 disposed -in juxtaposition.

In addition, a master connecting rod similar to may be employed, the head of which comprises bosses and to which the other connecting rods are linked as in the known aircraft engines having radially arranged cylinders.

If two pusher blades are employed, they are preferably so disposed in relation to one another that one occupies the position 1a shown in Figure 5, while the Thus, the position 1 of one blade will correspond to the position 1b of the other.

In another embodiment, the movement of the shaft 2 and of the blade 1 may be controlled with the aid of a device similar to that shown in Figures 6 and 7. In this device, the crank 8, instead of being controlled by a connecting rod 10, has mounted thereon a roller 39 turning on the journal 9 and urged along a profile formthis ing a cam, the said profile being in the embodiment illustrated a fixed or adjustable slot 40. The effect produced on the blade 1 is the same as in the case of Figures 1 to 5, the journal 9 again describing a circumference identical with that shown at 41 in Figures 1 and 3 and the said circumference having its centre at the same point 20 as an eccentric 12 which would produce the same eifect.

In modified forms of this embodiment, the slot 40 or the profile forming the cam may be given a form other than circular in order to obtain a different law for the movement of the blade 1.

The shaft 5 may be driven in various ways, schematically illustrated in the drawing by a rectangular box and designated by reference character M, and in particular in the case of a container mounted on a vehicle, it may receive its movement from the driving unit of the said vehicle.

However, in one preferred embodiment, the shaft 5 is driven by a hydraulic motor fed with fluid under pres sure by a compressor driven, for example, by the driving unit of the vehicle.

The said motor may consist, as shown in Figure 8, of two double-acting hydraulic jacks 33 and 34, each of which actuates a crank 35, 36 keyed on the respective ends of the shaft 5. The said jacks oscillate about a shaft such as 37 and act on the cranks 35, 36. The said cranks 35 and 36 are offset in relation to one another at an angle 38 differing from in order to avoid any tendency to stop at one of the dead centres. The jacks are fed with fluid under pressure by means of a distributor (not shown) which may be, for example, a device similar to that employed in reciprocating steam engines to feed one face of the piston or the other depending upon the positions of the cranks.

The loading and ramming assembly described, together with the hopper 13, may be mounted on a door movably arranged to enable the rear of the container 17 to be disengaged during the discharge of the refuse.

Figures 9 to 17 relate to another embodiment of the invention in which a blade P of special form is driven as in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 9 to 17 the on'entable blade P has three faces, the cross-section of which is a partly curvilinear triangle. One of the faces 42 acts as the principal pushing face as will hereinafter be described, while another face 43 acts during a pushing movement preceding the main pushing movement, the latter face here being a fraction of a cylindrical surface.

In addition, the arrangement illustrated comprises a form of wall or casing 44 which substantially closes the space situated between the face 43 of the orientable blade and the driving shaft 5. The said casing 44 is fast with the shaft 5. It could also be stated that it constitutes a fraction of a thick blade mounted on the shaft 5 and turning therewith. The outer edge of the said casing consists of a concave cylindrical surface 45, against which the convex face 43 of the blade P bears, with a sufiiciently small clearance to prevent material being delivered from passing generally between blade P and the said casing 44. The slight clearance existing between these two parts may be closed by a deformable packing, such as a strip of leather.

In yet another arrangement employed in the present embodiment, a screen 46 is provided which, during the movements of the blade P, limits the return of the material being loaded, and performs a similar function to the screen 28 of Figure 5. The said screen 46 is so mounted on a pin 47 as to be partially rotatable, and it tends to bear against the driving shaft 5 either under the action of its own weight or under the action of return springs. This tendency to bear against the shaft 5 may be limited by abutments. On the other hand, the lower end 48 of the said screen 46 serves as a scraper for the face 42 of the blade P, so that the material being pushed by the latter is conveniently detached at the necessary instant. This material passes through the free space hetween the said end 48 and the bottom of the hopper 19.

The operation of the device thus constructed is illustrated in Figures 11 to 16, which show various positions successively occupied by the movable blade P and the scraper screen 46 in the course of a cycle of operation. In the course of this cycle, the changes in the orientation of the blade P along its trajectory are determined by the action of the crank 8, the roller 39 of which is caused to move in the slot 40.

The blade P successively occupies the positions P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6 and returns to the position P1.

In the position P1 shown in Figure 11, the face 42 of the blade forces the material 54 towards the container 21, between the bottom of the hopper 19 and the end 48 of the scraper screen 46.

In the position P2 shown in Figure 12, the blade is about to pass behind the said scraper screen 46, which is then in the position 46a. The material being delivered is at 56. In addition, other material has been discharged through the orifice 22 of the hopper 19, and constitutes the pile 53 which constantly increases to 53d.

In the position shown in Figure 13, the blade is at P3 and maintains the screen, which is at 46b.

In the position shown in Figure 14, the blade is at P4, its face 43 then acting on the pile of material 53d and commencing to compress it. The scraper screen is in its inoperative position 460 in which it bears against the shaft 5.

In the position shown in Figure 15, the blade has pivoted about its shaft 2, and its face 42 thus again becomes the working face.

In the position shown in Figure 16, the blade is in the position P6, and it then forces the pile of material 53] towards the container or enclosure, again through the passage situated between the bottom of the hopper 19 and the end 48 of the scraper screen 46, which is again in the position 46c.

Such a cycle of operation may be continuous or discontinuous. If it is discontinuous, the blade P stops periodically in at least one given position, for example in the position P1 of Figure 11. It leaves this position when the loader, after having filled the hopper as at 53d, voluntarily starts a further cycle. This may be achieved by means of a system of cams and pawls such that when the blade P returns to its initial position after having completed one cycle, the action of the driving unit by which the shaft 5 is rotated is stopped, a manual operation being necessary in order to set the said driving unit in action again. Similar devices are frequently employed on presses for cutting-out sheet metal sections.

it may be advantageous for reasons of safety to com' bine the starting of the driving unit for a fresh cycle with the closing of a movable closure flap such as 58 (Figure 9), so that the said flap must be in the position 58a during the rotation of the blade P.

In other cases, a continuous operation of the arrangement may be advantageously employed, the movable blade carrying out its movement without interruption, that is to say, the cycles succeeding one another without the blade P stopping. This will preferably be the case when hermetic loading devices as shown in Figure 17 are employed. In this case, the receptacles containing the refuse are tipped at 59 at a level higher than the various positions of the blade. The refuse falls into the hopper at any instant during the cycle in progress, for example as indicated at 60. The movable blade is inaccessible tc the loaders and safety is automatically ensured.

Thus, regardless of which embodiment is adopted, apparatus for loading and ramming material in an enclosure are obtained, which have real advantages, notably that of great efficiency of operation. It is to be noted that the changes in orientation of .the blade are effected either in at least three zones of the trajectory 6 or along a fraction of the latter which is of a length at least equal' to onesixth of said trajectory.

As will :already'be apparent from the foregoing, the invention is in no way limited to the forms of application or construction of its various parts which have been more particularly indicated, but covers all modifications,

notably those in which the apparatus comprises two or more delivery and/or compression blades, at least one of which may have functions differing from those of the other blade orblades; those in which the changes in the orientation of the blade or blades are effected by means of devices (notably by devices comprising tracks, cams or the like), which do not continuously modify the orientation of the said blades; those in which the blades or blade have a form different from that shown in the examples, and thus a form comprising concave portions or articulated elements; and those in which the invention is applied either to the loading of all bulk materials, including incompressible materials or to loading in a fixed position for the purpose of introducing various materials into a fixed receptacle, for example into a silo or into a loading chute taking the place of the container 17 or again to the handling of products such as coal or crushed stone for the purpose of storing them, or transporting them or of loading a vehicle.

I claim:

1. A device for loading and ramming materials in an enclosed space with a wall comprising orientable blade means having double movement, one of said movements taking place along a closed curved trajectory, along a first part of which said blade means is displaced at a relatively small distance from said wall and is in contact with the materials to guide them into the enclosed space along said wall, and on a second part of which said blade means is out of contact with said materials, the other movement being a relative movement with respect to the trajectory to render said blade means inetfective during the second part of said trajectory and to bring into contact a surface of said blade means with said materials at the beginning of the first part of said trajectory with an inclination With respect to said trajectory so as to provide a pushing force by said blade means directed forwardly and towards said wall, and means for producing relative movement of said blade means to provide at the beginning of said first part a progressive increase of the inclination of the surface of said blade in connection with said materials up to a maximum value along a part of said trajectory and to provide a progressive decrease of said inclination during a later portion of said first part of said trajectory.

2. Arrangement for carrying out the process according to claim 1, further comprising a motor with an arbor, two side plates mounted on said arbor and driven by the arbor of said motor, two bearings coaxially mounted with respect to said two side plates at a given distance from said motor, means including two bearings for supporting said blade means at both ends thereof to provide oscillatable movement thereof about the axis of said bearings, and wherein said means for producing relative movement of said blade means includes means for transmitting the movement of said arbor and acting on the orientation of said blade means to modify the orientation of said blade means depending on the angular position of said arbor, the dimension of said blade means in apdirection perpendicular to the axis of said bearings being sufliciently large to move said materials by said blade means without the necessity of mounting a drum between said two side plates.

3. Arrangement according to claim 2, in which said means for transmitting the movement includes an eccentric mounted on said arbor and crank means mounted at one end on said blade means and connected with said eccentric.

4. Arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said means for transmitting the movement includes a cam member of circular profile mounted eccentrically on said arbor with respect thereto, and a follower abutting against said cam member and operatively connected with said blade means to control the orientation thereof.

5. Arrangement according to claim 2 in which the section of said blade means perpendicular to said bearings comprises at least three sides, said means for transmitting the movement being operative to orient said blade means to move said materials successively by at least two of the faces thereof corresponding to the con- 10 tiguous sides of said section.

6. Arrangement'accordingto. claim 2 comprising a wall mounted on said arbor between said two side walls to substantially close the space between said arbor and said blade means during the first part of said trajectory.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATEQ ,PATENTS Thomas et al. Feb. 10, 1953 

